Liaoning province has a long- standing history and time-honored culture tracing back to the remote antiquity. The discovery of the fossilized apeman's skull on the Mt. South Jinniu in Dashiqiao of Yingkou, proves that ancestors of human bein gs labored, lived and multiplied on this land about 280,000 years ago. The 150,000-year-old stone tools of the middle period of the Old Stone Age were unearthed from the Pigeon Hole in Kazuo county of Chaoyang city. About six or seven thousand years ago, Liaoning entered the New Stone Age. The large quantities of utensils unearthed from cultural remains in Xinle, Shenyang , which date from the New Stone Age, indicate a prosperous existence in the late period of primitive society in Liaoning . The ruins of the Hongshan Culture at the Niuhe Ridge reveal a primitive civilized society with an embryonic form of a country, symbolizing that Liaoning is one of the place of origin of the Chinese civilization.

As early as 16 century B.C., Liaoning was a neighboring State of the Shang Dynasty, and was under the jurisdiction of the Yan State during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring State Period. Since then, various dynasties had established their administrative institutions in Liaoning region. Liaoning was the birthplace of China 's last feudal dynasty- - Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.). Shenyang Imperial Palace and the Three Imperial Tombs (Yongling, Fuling and Zhaoling ) from the early Qing Dynasty reflect the political, cultural and historical outlook of the period. The republic of China followed the system of Qing Dynasty. In 1929 A.D., Fengtian Province was changed to Liaoning Province , which means the Liaohe River valley is ever peaceful. Liaoning was ever the place where the Japanese Imperialists launched the aggressive war on September 18th,1931 .

After the foundation of the People' Republic of China in 1949, Liaoning region was divided into two provinces: the east Liaoning and the west Liaoning , as well as Shenyang , Luda , Anshan , Fushun and Benxi under the jurisdiction of the central government. In August, 1954, the east and west Liaoning provinces merged into one province-- Liaoning Province . Administrative Divisions.

There are 14 cities under the jurisdiction of the province, together with 16 county level cities, 28 counties and 56 districts under the cities' jurisdiction. Shenyang is Liaoning 's capital, situated in the central part of the province with the area of 12,900 square km. Of those, the urban area is 3,495 square km. Shenyang is the center of politics, economy, culture, finance and trading of the province, as well as a key industrial base and a cultural city with a long-standing history.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 [Origin:Liaoning Government Website]